Furthering its mission to encourage, educate and activate young Aruban filmmakers by creating new opportunities for hands-on learning and development, the Aruba International Film Festival (AIFF) is introducing a new Film Lab for the festival’s second edition, which takes place June 10-16, 2011. The announcement was made today by Festival founders Giuseppe Cioccarrelli and Jonathan Vieira and AIFF Artistic Director Claudio Masenza.

Sponsored by Regeling KulturA, which provides money for culture on the Dutch Caribbean, the new AIFF Film Lab will include a special workshop titled the 96 Hours Lab and the Festival’s “In Conversation With…” series.

The newly created 96 Hours Lab is an intensive workshop designed to provide hands-on training through the filmmaking process over a four-day period (June 11-14) during the Festival. Overseen by New York University film Professor Darrell Wilson, the workshop will focus on the methods and practice of film production.

Both amateur and emerging professional filmmakers will learn how seasoned filmmakers approach a project and how they condense space, time and information using special techniques. Incorporating aspects of the island and culture of Aruba as the subject matter, participants will create living pictures and develop simple narratives, and will also learn how to use editing equipment and editing techniques to achieve a polished, finished product. AIFF will screen final projects to the public at the conclusion of the Lab.

AIFF’s popular “In Conversation With…” series is an interactive platform where attendees engage in hosted question and answer sessions with actors and filmmakers who discuss a variety of topics including acting, directing, production, and various other aspects of the filmmaking process. This year’s lineup will include Golden Globe® Award winning actress Kim Cattrall (“Sex and the City”), Academy Award® winning director Jonathan Demme (“The Silence of the Lambs”), BAFTA winning costume designer Michael Kaplan (“Burlesque”) and Academy Award® nominated writer/director Milcho Manchevski (“Before the Rain”). Each will discuss the film they are presenting at the Festival.

The “In Conversation With…” series was enormously successful in its debut last year and featured such notable guests as Oscar® and Golden Globe® nominee Guillermo Arriaga (“Babel” “21 Grams”), multiple Academy Award® winner editor Thelma Schoonmaker (“The Departed” “Goodfellas” “The Aviator”); Academy Award® nominated actress Patricia Clarkson (“Pieces of April” “Shutter Island” “Lars and the Real Girl”); Oscar® nominated actor Griffin Dunne (“Game 6” “My Girl” “Johnny Dangerously”) and famous Indian choreographer Longiness Fernandes (“Slumdog Millionaire”).
The 2nd Annual Aruba International Film Festival is showcasing a diverse array of films from 13 different countries and feature several international premieres. Among the titles, the international premieres at AIFF include the Massimiliano Bruno directed Italian comedy “Nessuno mi può giudicare” (English title “Nobody Can Judge Me”); American drama “Meet Monica Velour,” written and directed by Keith Bearden; the Mario Van Peebles directed drama “Things Fall Apart” starring rapper, actor and multi-tiered business mogul Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, who will be attending the Festival; and “Tequila” directed by Sergio Sánchez Suárez.

AIFF will open with “Meet Monica Velour” starring Kim Cattrall, who will kick-off the Festival’s opening night Red Carpet on Friday, June 10th at Paseo Herencia.

Among the international stars confirmed to attend AIFF are Italian actress Paola Cortellesi (“Nessuno mi può ’ guidicare-Nobody Can Judge Me,” “Piano, solo”), director Sergio Sanchez Suarez (“Tequila”) and his leading actress Daniela Schmidt (“Casi divas,” “Sea of Dreams”), Mexican actress Barbara Mori (“Kites,” “La mujer de mi hermano,” “Ugly Me“), Italian actor and screenwriter Alessandro Calza (“Ciao”), and Polish director and artist Lech Majewski (“The Mill and the Cross,” “Angelus”). Additional names will be announced in the coming weeks.

Encouraged by strong local support last year, AIFF expanded its popular "Spotlight" series, which was created to showcases movies from Aruban and Caribbean filmmakers. Having proved its popularity among locals, the Festival has created a broader experience for the series this year. There will be an official competition, jury and award, as well an audience award.

The full AIFF program is available to print online at www.arubafilmfest.com.

About the Aruba International Film Festival

The breathtaking Caribbean island of Aruba provides the backdrop for the film industry’s newest “must-attend” event, taking place June 10-16, 2011, with an inviting atmosphere, suited like none other, to attract actors, directors, filmmakers, and film lovers. 

AIFF stands to further global awareness for the Island of Aruba as a center of art, culture and creativity and serve as a platform to promote the understanding and appreciation for the art of cinema and filmmaking. With participants enjoying a relaxed Aruban ambiance and a casual interaction between filmmakers and audience.

The annual AIFF brings people from around the world to view a wide selection of films, join in discussions and attend special parties and events.

AIFF has a mission to encourage, educate and activate young Aruban filmmakers. Throughout the Festival, notable film professionals will be conducting master classes on all facets of filmmaking and the creative process.

For more information please visit the Aruba International Film Festival website at www.arubafilmfest.com.
 Regeling KulturA:

Money for culture on the Dutch Caribbean

Regeling KulturA supports projects that reinforce the cultural infrastructure on the Dutch Caribbean and strengthen (international) cultural exchange. Projects that promote exchanges between the islands and the Netherlands and projects that strengthen the international position of the islands in the Caribbean region can also be supported. For more information please visit http://www.regelingkultura.nl/